Dubai Properties' Business Bay Executive Towers development has one hotel and 11 towers.

Published: 15 August 2018 - 6:37 a.m.

By: Oscar Rousseau

Dubai Properties (DP) has slashed power costs at its Business Bay Executive Towers thanks to an energy efficiency retrofit launched to make its building more eco-friendly.

The real estate development arm of Dubai Holdings spent $272m (AED1m) to install energy-saving systems at 11 buildings in its community, a retrofit that could offset up to 1,450 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year – equivalent to removing 350 cars from the road.

DP teamed up with Honeywell and Signify to deliver the upgrades, and will save approximately $400,000 (AED1.5m) in annual energy bills by cutting the annual community service charge fee paid by tenants.

A digital building management system was installed to monitor and control mechanical and electrical utilities in 11 of the 12 towers of the community.

Fan coil units were integrated into the management system so electricity consumption could be monitored better. Honeywell installed control logic software to operate the fan coil devices, which improved the ability to regulate hot and cold air based on the outdoor temperature.

A DP spokesperson told Construction Week that the energy retrofit initiative was "just the beginning" of the master developer's plans to invest in making its properties "even more environment-friendly".

This retrofit strategy is building momentum and DP could expand the energy-saving exercise, as it aims to play its part in helping Dubai become a greener and more sustainable city.

"There are plans to apply similar energy efficiency enhancements across our completed developments. However, we are currently in the tendering phase for these projects," the spokesperson said.

"As our developments become more energy-efficient, we hope that our residents will also become more environmentally-conscious, and find ways to lower their own household’s energy usage."

Raed Al Nuaimi, group chief executive officer at DP, said he was "deeply committed" to building green and sustainable residential communities in Dubai, and described the retrofit programme as a "step in the right direction".